Mixing device



May 2; 1933. F. w. EBAUGH MIXING DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1929 Patented May 2, 1933 1,90ae5i FFEQE FRANK W. EBAUGI-I, 03? PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, ASSIGNOB TO THE TEXAS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPGBATION GI DELAW'ARE MIXING DEVICE Application filed September 18, 1929.

This invention relates to means of effecting an intimate mixture between two or more fluids of different natures or the dispersion in a fluid of a finely divided solid material such as a pulverous clay, and particularly the contacting of various purifying or treating reagents with hydrocarbon oils.

The invention contemplates passing the fluid undergoing treatment, together with the reagent, through a restricted passage at rather high velocity and subjecting it to sudden and abrupt changes in the direction of flow preferably after passing the mixture through a nozzle of smaller size than the passage, due to which, such a high velocity is imparted to the stream that a condition of turbulence is created at the entrance to the mixer that the intimate admixture of the fluid to the reagent is greatly aided.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the mixing device comprises a nozzle of appropriate size and a series of relatively short cylindrical chambers joined together at rightangles to each other with each succeeding cylinder joined to the preceding one short of its. end thus forming a recess or pocket at the end of each chamber.

The materials to be mixed are forced through the nozzle under pressure and are projected violently against the wall of the pocket or recess at the end of the first chamber. The direction of flow of the stream, thus broken up and for the moment reversed, is then immediately deflected through the second chamber, disposed at right angles to the first. At the end of the second chamber the stream is again subjected to a sudden baffling and subsequent abrupt change in the direction of flow and this operation is repeated during passage through a desired number of chambers until the fluids are finally contacted satisfactorily when they are discharged through the outlet.

In order to more fully disclose the invention reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing showing a specific example of the invention, the drawing being a sectional view of an apparatus in accord- Serial No. 393,327.

ance with the invention and constituting a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the specific example illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a section of standard pipe through which the fluid to be treated is conducted from storage (not shown). A suitable chemical reagent is added continuously in the proper proportion through a pipe 14, extending from proportioning means (not shown).

The commingling streams of fluid and chemical reagent upon leaving the pipe 1 are forced through a restricted nozzle 2 of appropriate size into the first chamber 8 of the mixer. Due to the restriction of the nozzle a relatively high linear velocity is imparted to the fluid; and the fluid stream is projected violently against the wall 9 of the recess in the closed end of the chamber 8. The path of the fluid is thus abruptly broken up and the fluid mixture is subjected to an immediate momentary reversal in direction of flow, that is, during the space of time it remains in this recess prior to its subsequent deflection into the next chamber 4, which is disposed at right angles to, and forms a tee connection with, chamber 3.

As the fluid is moved rapidly through the chamber 4 and into the recess at the end thereof, the stream is again subjected to a sudden battling by the end wall 10 followed by an abrupt change in the direction of flow before entering the next chamber 5. In an identical manner the fluid mixture is directed through chambers 5 and 6 having end walls 11 and 12 respectively, and finally into an outlet duct 7 through which it is discharged into the outlet pipe 1a.

Subjecting the fluids to the violent bafiling and abrupt directional changes in flow during passage through these successively connected chambers results in such an extremely high degree of turbulence within the said chambers that the admixture of the fluids brought about therein is exceedingly intimate and is completed in the shortest possible time.

It will be possible in many instances to accomplish satisfactory mixing of the fluid and the reagent without the use of the nozzle. This will depend upon the nature of the fluids to be treated or the particular reagent to be used. In other words, the mixer is so effective that by simply passing the ingredients to be mixed through the mixer at a desired velocity the desired amount of mixing or contacting will be accomplished It is pointed out that a nozzle such as nozzle 2 is not always necessary to the successful operation of the mixer nor is it always desirable to use such a one due to cramped quarters or for other reasons. In such cases the jetting effect of a nozzle could be had by employing a suitable constriction at the point of discharge of the pipe 1, or by reducing the diameter of the pipe 1 at its point of discharge to the mixer sothat a relatively high linear velocity of the fluid entering the device is caused.

While the chambers forming a mixer as illustrated and described herein are joined to each other perpendicularly, it is to be understood that they could be set at any desirable angle or in any zigzag relation to each other.

Obviously a number of modifications may be made to the herein described and illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claim.

I claim:

A mixing device adapted for contacting hydrocarbon oil with a reagent comprising a series of pipe sections of substantially equal length successively joined together in angular relationship to each other, a mixing pocket in each section formed by joining each section with its succeeding section short of its own end; a conduit adapted for introducing the oil for passage through the several pipe sections, a pipe connected to said conduit through which the reagent is introduced to the oil, a restricted passage connecting said conduit with the first of said series of pipe sections and adapted to boost the velocity of the mixture of oil and re-- agent as it is discharged into the first of the serially connected pipe sections.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of September 1929.

FRANK W. EBAUGH. 

